Inglis goes after Palin: 'Lowest form of political leadership'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/08/art.inglis.gi.jpg caption ="GOP Rep. Bob Inglis criticized Sarah Palin and his own party in an interview with the Associated Press published Friday."](CNN) - Republican Rep. Bob Inglis, who last month lost a primary battle to retain his seat, is now taking aim at some members of his own party - the second ousted Republican to express frustration with the GOP in as many weeks.
In an interview with the Associated Press and confirmed to CNN by his office, Inglis targets the "death panels" phrase made famous by Sarah Palin when the former Alaska governor inaccurately claimed the Democratic-backed health care legislation would ration health care for the elderly.
"There were no death panels in the bill … and to encourage that kind of fear is just the lowest form of political leadership. It's not leadership. It's demagoguery," said Inglis, who lost his primary challenge to conservative Trey Gowdy by 42 points last month and faced heavy criticism for voting in favor of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in 2009.
In a series of Facebook posts last summer, Palin repeatedly suggested the health care legislation would amount to rationing and coined the phrase "death panels" to suggest government bureaucrats, not doctors, would determine the type of health care one receives.
The de-bunked phrase was quickly repeated by detractors of the bill and is credited with spurring heated opposition to the measure.
Inglis said such words amount to "preying on [voter's] fears."
"I think we have a lot of leaders that are following those [television and talk radio] personalities and not leading," he said. "What it takes to lead is to say, 'You know, that's just not right.'"
The comments from Inglis, who has served in Congress since 1993, come two weeks after Bob Bennett, - the Republican senator who was cast aside by his party in a primary earlier this year - suggested the GOP is devoid of fresh ideas.
"As I look out at the political landscape now, I find plenty of slogans on the Republican side, but not very many ideas," Bennett told The Ripon Society, a Republican think tank last month.
"The concern I have is that ideology and a demand for absolute party purity endangers our ability to govern once we get into office," Bennett also said.
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A Republican is never confused with facts.
Pre Obamacare the Insurance companies dropped sick people, denied coverage of preexisting conditions and set limits of insurance coverage.
This is what I would consider "death panels" and rationed care. Its amazing that Repugs have no problem with the insurance companies determining your care. Anti Obama at all cost and regardless of reality.
Sarah quit her governor job to pursue the bucks what makes you think she deserve my vote or confidence.
In the end it will be the ethics law that kills Palin's career. It was so bad she resigned over it, and she didn't see how bad it was despite people telling her. She backed a really bad, stupid law and had to resign over ethics charges. Add the stupidity to that and she's got nowhere to go.
When are the others going to speak up? Now, or after they've also been displaced by the foam-at-the-mouth crazies?
well said Inglis. Trying to enduce fear is the lowest thing anyone can do. Look at what happened to us when we believed Bush about Iran and WMD's. Fear tatics galore and now look at us.
Well, well, well a Republican with some nads! Make the switch dude! Go Progressive before the Republicans write your political obit. Palin in the words of Keith Olbermann "is an idiot"
hey obama victim:
can you please tell us all in great detail how you became a victim of obama? are you saying that since he became prez the world around you has collapsed? all structures depend on a foundation. are you saying that the U.S. had a stable foundation with no weaknesses when he stepped into office and that it took electing him to bring down the power we once were?
please do enlighten. i desperately want to learn how your sense of security pre-Jan20, 2009 transformed into victim status. thank you.
Dean - that's what insurance companies do now! Al those predetermined conditions - like breathing! How about all those people who have died because they were no longer covered? Remember the son who was raising money for his mother? How many cases? Be honest with yourself.
There are so many lies on this page I couldn't begin to answer them all. What is wrong with you people? There are no death panels or rationing to lead to seniors' not receiving medical treatment! Are you halfwits? Get hold of the bill, or even parts of the bill you are concerned with, and read it yourself. Stop believing these idiots on Fox news. Google the health care bill – educate yourselves instead of just blindly following along like sheep. Or lemmings.
This is to the poster Remember the Alamo.
I remember the Alamo, everyone that stayed was killed.
We are done with a RINO party that is only a dime's worth of difference from the liberals.
If we wanted to vote for liberal big spenders, we'd vote for democrats. Du(m)bya fooled us and we won't make that mistake again.
Inglis is just one more in a long line of RINOs who value reelection MORE than standing on conservative principles, and for that, the voters have rightfully said good riddance. And now he whines that "Oh boo hoo, Palin is eeeeeevil..."
No bud, we just don't have faith in who you claim to be.
Reagan said it best in 1975:
"I don‘t know about you, but I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, 'We must broaden the base of our party'—when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents."
"...Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?"
"...A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.
"...And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Yes, Inglis, we are done with you and other RINOs like you. Don't let the door hit you on your tax-payer funded pampered @$$ on the way out.
inglis=crybaby
At last a Republican with a brain. Of course the party rejected him on conservative principles.
As a moderate, this is the kind of individual I would vote for. He has ethics more than you can say about the Grizzle Mom Palin.
A pox on you McCain for bringing her into the limelight.